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Myth-busting about religion

Do we, as humans, need religion to make us feel secure and part of a community?

Religion is not necessary to feel secure and part of a community, but many, many people—probably a majority of the world’s population—find it very helpful in accomplishing both.

Do you think that people today are getting more involved or less involved with organized religion? Are certain types of religion or certain sects growing?

The 1990s witnessed a dramatic jump in the percentage of Americans who do not affiliate with religion. Previously, only about 7 percent did not affiliate, but now it’s about 17 percent. It’s leveled out somewhat in recent years, and those remaining in religion, which usually means Christianity, exhibit somewhat higher levels of involvement.

The media have been saying for a while that Mitt Romney is not electable because he is a Mormon. Yet millions in the U.S. and world-wide are Mormons. Do you think that Americans are intolerant of religions they don’t know much about?

Americans are more tolerant of some religions and less tolerant of others. We’re very tolerant of Judaism and Christianity, but we’re much less tolerant of Islam, though we’re relatively familiar with it as well. Some of the more esoteric American religions, such as Mormonism and Scientology, provoke intolerance.

It seems like more and more Americans are joining conservative Christian, “born-again” religions. Is there a pattern to this growth? Is it part of a trend that may change?

Evangelical, born-again, or other types of theologically conservative Christians have constituted about a quarter of the nation’s population for the last several decades. This stability is impressive given the rapid increase of the religiously unaffiliated. Catholics, likewise, have remained stable, also at about a quarter of the population. The large influx of Hispanic Catholics has counteracted the loss of native-born Catholics. Mainline Protestants, however, have steadily lost market share in American religion for over the last century. At one point, they claimed over half of Americans, but now it’s only about 15 percent.

Research shows that conservative Christians are more likely to get divorced than other people. This isn’t true for conservative Jews, for example. Why is it happening?

Actually, the religiously unaffiliated and members of historically black churches have the highest divorce rates. Catholics and mainline Protestants have the lowest. Evangelicals and other theologically conservative Christians are a bit above average. It’s not clear how to interpret the correlation between religion and divorce. It could be that certain types of people, who are more or less prone to divorce, join certain religions. Or, it could be that the teachings and practices of a given religion are more or less effective in encouraging marital stability. Or, it could be some of both.

Join us for a talk by Gina Barreca,2018 UCONN BOARD OF TRUSTEESDISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH

All great works of fiction, poetry and dramaâas well as texts forming mythologies, religions, national epics to heroic sagasâhave loneliness at the heart of their narrative. From Persephone to Peter Pan, from âFrankensteinâ to âFrozen,â the stories we pass along are saturated with unwilling isolation.âOnly around half of Americans say they have meaningful, daily face-to-face social interactions,â according to a 2017 study. A former U.S. Surgeon General argues that âWe live in the most technologically connected age in the history of civilization, yet rates of loneliness have doubled since the 1980s.â We need more than social media. We need social contact. We need community. How can we break through the loneliness barrier? Being alone when in need of companionship is more than sad; itâs an epidemic.Chronic loneliness is as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes per day. We need to change our national story and, often, our personal ones as well.Even the concept of the âlone wolfâ is a myth. Wolves hunt in packs.

Reception to follow.

For more information about this event, or if you are an individual who requires special accommodation to participate, please contact the CLAS Deanâs Office at (860) 486-2713.

A liberal arts and sciences degree prepares students with the tools they need to excel across a wide range of careers. Given the number of options available to you, it can be overwhelming to narrow down career choices. Attending CLAS Career Night will provide you exposure to career opportunities for CLAS students.

This semesterâs focus will be on research-based careers. During this event you will engage with CLAS alumni, learn about various occupations, and gain insight about how to best prepare for your future career.

The McNair Scholars Program and the Office of Undergraduate Research invite you to join us for a brown bag research seminar.

Birds, Bacteria, and Bioinformatics: Why Evolutionary Biology is the Best

Sarah Hird, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Molecular and Cell Biology

This series is open to all undergraduate and graduate students, and is designed especially for students conducting (or interested in conducting) STEM research. These seminars are opportunities to learn about research being pursued around campus, to talk with faculty about their path into research, and to ask questions about getting involved in research.

About CLAS

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the academic core of learning and research at UConn. We are committed to the full spectrum of academics across the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. We give students a liberal arts and sciences education that empowers them with broad knowledge, transferable skills, and an ability to think critically about important issues across a variety of disciplines.